Re: What to do with empty bottles?

The fresh cayenne peppers work perfectly for this application, whether they be green or red. It's not like a regular "hot sauce," though. This is really just a spicy vinegar that southerners typically refer to as "pepper sauce" that we put on vegetables (collard greens, okra, black eyed peas, etc.). I am, however, very interested in attempting a homemade hot sauce, akin to a Franks. I haven't tried that yet, though. I used a E.H. Taylor tornado survivor bottle, by the way, which looks pretty awesome on my counter.

Re: What to do with empty bottles?

Originally Posted by Wedge

Fat-bottomed bottles (such as ORVW & Templeton) work great as lamp bases. I drill a small hole near the base to allow a small cord to pass through, find a decent little lampshade and... let there be light! Yes, drilling holes in glass can be a real PITA.
Unfortunately, some of the coolest bottles are tall and slender - not real practical as a lamp.

I do something similar except I fill the bottle with x-mas lights, cut the plug off and run it out the drilled hole and put the plug back on. Nice accent lights. Got the idea from a local bartender who sells them.

Re: What to do with empty bottles?

I pretty much do the same things as most of y'all do. I keep my empty ETL and Weller Centennial bottles for decanting handles, smaller vattings, etc... I wholeheartedly agree that they do take up less shelf space. (and they fit in shipping boxes better too ) I also keep a couple of empty Weller 12, OWA or Weller SR bottles in case I open a bottle and a cork breaks. I also keep at least one empty Weller SR handle on hand in case I want to do a vatting of two full 750's. Re: SB or Weller blend, or Joe's Reserve. Joe's Reserve is my 1:1 vatting of WTRB and WTRR 10/90.

Once in a while my wife will get flowers to put on the server in our dining room. She liked one of my bottles, and when it was empty, she used it as a flower vase. I believe it was either a FR Mariage or Angel's Envy bottle. I can't remember which one it was. I haven't seen it in a while, so it may have ended up in the recycle bin.

One novel idea that another member here (ACDetroit IIRC) once talked about, was having a glass cutter cut down empty BTAC bottles, and make them into rocks glasses.

Re: What to do with empty bottles?

Windchime - knock the bottom off using the burning string/bucket of water method, put a wooden bead on a string, and hang it appropriately. Different sizes will make different tones.

I like to keep at most 1 empty around for decanting. Most of the empties I have go into a retaining wall (for outdoor display) mixed with concrete, mortar, and chicken wire.

We use empty beer bottles to make raised beds for the garden, and I have an outdoor oven project I'd like to do one day using the bottles and mortar for a base. Makes some really nice, unusual accents around the grassy spots.

"this hobby is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, check yourself, because you're doing it wrong." Charles Cowdery

Re: What to do with empty bottles?

Originally Posted by TheNovaMan

That's cool. Did she use a replacement wick and just drill a hole in the cap/cork?

Yep. Bought the wicks from Lowes and drilled a 1/4" hole to run it through. Started small on the hole and worked up to keep from destroying the horse and the cork. Cork holds it it so it needs to survive the drilling. Thanks I'll let her know she did good!

Re: What to do with empty bottles?

Originally Posted by KyFriedChicken

Yep. Bought the wicks from Lowes and drilled a 1/4" hole to run it through. Started small on the hole and worked up to keep from destroying the horse and the cork. Cork holds it it so it needs to survive the drilling. Thanks I'll let her know she did good!

Nice job to MrsKFC on that Blanton's, in that she was able to salvage the beautiful stopper. I have done similar torches with OF Birthday Bourbons and RHF bottles. The OFBB is a PITA on the bar, but is a great stable platform for this!! I went with copper plumbing pieces
for the top. Didn't trust the cork from not burning on the OFBB (the stopper is entirely made of cork, and didn't think I could successfully drill the RHF. I'll try the Blanton's next. Again, well done!